The Orioles fight to get back on top of the AL East. The Yankees and their $225 million payroll fight to close on the wild card.
Scarcely more than a month has passed since the Orioles last went up against the Yankees, but that’s been time enough for a lot to change. Two of the four starters used by the Yankees in the last series aren’t on the active roster right now. Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, and Carlos Beltran were all traded. Alex Rodriguez was shuffled with little ceremony into a desk job.
In nearly every way, this is the scenario for which I have hoped for the Yankees for many years.